Maria Maior's son is a football-playing, skateboard-riding, Xbox-loving kid whose home reveals all the trappings of domesticity: a cushy sofa, big-screen TV, a framed poster of Brian Urlacher -- one of the 12-year-old's favorite football players. On most evenings, two big dogs curl up on the carpeting.

The scene could be lifted from any suburban subdivision -- except that it's located not in a den, but in a storage unit.

The boy moved into the 10-foot-by-25-foot bunker about two months ago with his mom and her fiance, after a long run of bad luck and the loss of both of their jobs. His mother didn't not want his name used for this article. "As long as I have my parents, I'm fine with this," Maior's son said of the accommodations. "It's really not that bad."

School district officials said the boy is one of a record number of area students living in motels, campgrounds, shelters, cars and, yes, storage facilities.

According to recently released data, McHenry County's homeless enrollment increased by 125 percent from the 2007-08 school year to the 2008-09 school year -- the biggest hike in the six-county metropolitan area. Schools in Kane (85 percent), Will (61 percent), DuPage (53 percent), Lake (44 percent) and suburban Cook (24 percent) counties also posted their largest increases, reflecting the surge in foreclosures and unemployment. Early reports indicate that the trend has continued this fall, with numbers spiraling even higher.

"These are not people in cardboard boxes," said Maggie Dempsey, homeless liaison coordinator for School District U-46, which covers 11 communities in the northwest suburbs. "These are the people next door."

Though the economy is behind the uptick, homeless advocates and school officials say they're doing a better job of identifying and counting kids such as Maior's son -- one of 230 homeless students enrolled in U-46, an increase of 57 from last year, Dempsey said.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, federal legislation passed in 2002 to ensure that transient youth are enrolled in school, defines homelessness as "children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence."

For those students, school is a beacon of stability -- one reason that federal law requires all districts to provide this group with everything from crayons to transportation.

Maior prefers to drive her son to school rather than have him take the bus and risk arousing suspicion about their $179-per-month housing, which is a breach of their storage facility lease and an apparent violation of local ordinances.

Waking up early, before any storage facility workers arrive, is one part of the family's elaborate daily choreography -- along with knowing the fast-food restaurants where you can wash, doing homework by candlelight or flashlight and preparing dinner on a propane grill, which also serves as the primary source of heat. A sense of humor doesn't hurt, either. Punching in the security code for access to the property, Maior tells visitors, "I've always wanted to live in a gated community."

It wasn't always like this. Before the housing market crashed, the family rented houses and apartments. Shane Palmer -- the only father Maior's son has known -- would lay 200 to 300 yards of carpet a day; now, he's lucky to get 100 yards a week. Maior repaired TVs and other electronics at $13.50 an hour, but business dwindled in 2008. Sometimes, she'll make quick cash working on someone's car, but what she'd really like is a full-time job. So far, filling out dozens of applications has been futile. No responses.

To get into an apartment would take at least $1,000, she estimated. But even if the couple could scrape together that kind of money, their ordeal is complicated by two large dogs, including a Rottweiler -- a breed few landlords welcome.

"People say I should put the dogs to sleep ... but I wouldn't put down a family member just because they were inconvenient," she said, wiping away a tear. "If I do that, our whole world would crash."

Sometimes, when Maior or Palmer gets paid, there's a reprieve from the storage unit. For $40 a night, the family can check into a motel and take a hot shower, watch a movie, pop popcorn in the microwave and sleep in a real bed instead of on air mattresses. "That's when I get to pretend that this is not really happening," Maior said. "At least until the next morning, when it's time to pack up and go home."

Ron O'Connor, Will County's homeless liaison, said this academic year has been like no other. "Where we used to see single moms, maybe leaving a domestic situation, now we're seeing more and more two-parent homes that just aren't making it," O'Connor said. "That's never happened before."

The burgeoning homeless student population is taxing strapped school districts, say educators, who also must deal with everything from what is a reasonable amount of homework to students' not getting medication to their being bused long distances to stay in the district -- a right protected by law.

"Kids shouldn't have to suffer," said Sharon Gronemeyer, an assistant superintendent in Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202. "If school can do anything to lessen the burden, that's what we're doing."

Regular and 'extra' unemployment benefits are running out, jobless rate close to 22% (real stat) and many a mortgage falling behind and underwater. imo, This is probably the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

this is going to be a long hard winter for people north of the mason dixon line

sad days are here...tragic days are coming

:aviananvil:

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."- Frédéric Bastiat

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

this is going to be a long hard winter for people north of the mason dixon line

sad days are here...tragic days are coming

:aviananvil:

To be homeless means no bills,less stress,less worries

i am not saying its an easy life but its not the end of the world

i would rather be homeless than working 90 hours a week sh1tting myself worring about making payments at the end of the month

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 739402

so what are you ? working, unemployed, homeless...tell us more before you speculate

you have kids? pets?

comon tell me

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."- Frédéric Bastiat

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

so what are you ? working, unemployed, homeless...tell us more before you speculate

you have kids? pets?

comon tell me

Quoting: Avian

I am not homeless but i do envy them sometimes

Its not easy being a wage slave,i am tired and worn out,i sometimes ponder how great it must be to throw yourself in a hedge for a nights sleep not having to worry about money and other bullsh1t that comes with the modern lifestyle

homeless people live of the grid and have less materialistic crap in their life,is that why they are so cheerful ?

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

so what are you ? working, unemployed, homeless...tell us more before you speculate

you have kids? pets?

comon tell me

I am not homeless but i do envy them sometimes

Its not easy being a wage slave,i am tired and worn out,i sometimes ponder how great it must be to throw yourself in a hedge for a nights sleep not having to worry about money and other bullsh1t that comes with the modern lifestyle

homeless people live of the grid and have less materialistic crap in their life,is that why they are so cheerful ?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 739402

being single and homeless is not as bad

but I have a wife and kids...It would be really hard...I happend to be creative and enterprising and I would find a way to figure something out...many are not so talented...it would suck BIG time to be homeless

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."- Frédéric Bastiat

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

so what are you ? working, unemployed, homeless...tell us more before you speculate

you have kids? pets?

comon tell me

I am not homeless but i do envy them sometimes

Its not easy being a wage slave,i am tired and worn out,i sometimes ponder how great it must be to throw yourself in a hedge for a nights sleep not having to worry about money and other bullsh1t that comes with the modern lifestyle

homeless people live of the grid and have less materialistic crap in their life,is that why they are so cheerful ?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 739402

OK, Spanky ~ Homeless people are less materialistic because they HAVE NO materials! I would think cheerful would blow away when you need to take an urgent crap, brush your teeth or long to wander to the refrigerator for a drink or snack. How many days you wanna' keep turning your drawers inside out?

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Homeless students:'We have everything we need'

Family living in camper has shelter, food, despite not having a permanent addressClose quarters

Mariah Mattox sits near a space heater before finishing getting ready for school, in the family's camper home at Enchanted Shores campground in Peotone, Ill. Mariah and her parents, Kim and Rich, have lived at the campground since early July.

Six-year-old Mariah Mattox lives in a camper and is one of about 1,000 students in Will County who meet the state's definition of having no permanent address.

Each morning before school, Kim and Rich Mattox make sure their first-grader's clothes are clean, teeth are brushed and hair is combed before the bus rolls through the Enchanted Shores campgrounds in Peotone."We don't feel like we're homeless at all," said Kim Mattox, 48, who juggles a full-time job, an online college class and parenting -- all in a space barely larger than an office cubicle.

"We have a roof over our heads and food on the table. ... We have everything we need."

Mariah is the only child at Enchanted Shores. She's certainly not the only student whose family lives in a camper.

One Web site even promotes RVs as a hedge against dire straits, without a trace of irony that a once-proud emblem of American prosperity and leisure has been transformed into last-gasp housing.

During their 11-year marriage, the Mattoxes have eked out a pinched livelihood.

Kim Mattox has a downtown job entering data on the night shift. Her husband is mentally disabled but picks up yardwork and other unskilled labor whenever available. Saving on housing costs keeps their heads above water, she said.

Not that rent is cheap. The Mattoxes pay $575 a month, utilities included, to park their borrowed rig.

Despite the cramped quarters, the lifestyle is healthier than a shelter, she said. In the summer, Mariah played in a mesh tent, ate dinner over a campfire and caught fireflies. She loves her teacher, drawing pictures and having friends.

With winter looming, though, the family will have to spend more time indoors."Whatever happens, we're going to be fine," Mattox said. "Things will work out the way God wants."

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Wednesday, October, 21, 2009The Most Homeless Children Since the Great Depression

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Each year around this time, children across America head back to school. They are ready to show off new sneakers and back packs and tell summer stories to their friends. Teachers are eager to dive into lesson plans. Coaches are ready to start practice. Even parents look forward to the return of normalcy to family schedules. Everyone seems to have a reason to be excited about the new school year.

But for 1.5 million homeless children around the country, it’s an altogether different situation. These kids are not likely to have new shoes or any other back-to-school items, nor do they have happy summer stories to share. Their summer involved the physical and emotional trauma, illness and hunger associated with homelessness. Not to mention moving from shelter to shelter, doubling up with family members and friends, staying in dingy motels or living on the streets. One-third of them spent the summer trying to find their next meal.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Wednesday, October, 21, 2009The Most Homeless Children Since the Great Depression

Each year around this time, children across America head back to school. They are ready to show off new sneakers and back packs and tell summer stories to their friends. Teachers are eager to dive into lesson plans. Coaches are ready to start practice. Even parents look forward to the return of normalcy to family schedules. Everyone seems to have a reason to be excited about the new school year.

But for 1.5 million homeless children around the country, it’s an altogether different situation. These kids are not likely to have new shoes or any other back-to-school items, nor do they have happy summer stories to share. Their summer involved the physical and emotional trauma, illness and hunger associated with homelessness. Not to mention moving from shelter to shelter, doubling up with family members and friends, staying in dingy motels or living on the streets. One-third of them spent the summer trying to find their next meal.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

~Lord Ashtar

Greetings, This is Ashtar. One of these days soon there will be mass declaokings of our Ships, all over the World, simultaneously.New developments recently have made this possible.When this takes place, you will know arrests have taken place. We cannot make the Galacticpresence known on a worldwide scale until everyone is safe from any threat of danger,including world leaders, news media, and military officials.Many in the news media are prepared with specials already crafted that they will launch which will explain what mass decloakings means. When Ted Kennedy passed, there were several video tributes ready to go. This will be the case for mass decloakings.It will not be a surprise for the news media. KOS has talked to news media all over the world. Those news media who are penciled in for removal, already know they are leaving.Motherships, as you have already seen in China and Moscow film footage, will decloak in over 120 countries all at once. This will happen in different time zones, in day and at night. It will happen for millions of people at once. There will be film footage shot in all of these countries. This will go out over the internet as it is happening. YouTube and Servers will be supported by our technology during this time. Not only will there be Motherships in a large number of places, but millions of smaller ships will fill the skies in a shock and awe experience. ALL of these will have their lights on. Some will show in their Higher Dimensional forms as Light Ships and some will show up as metal discs. Some will show as a display of lights. There is an elaborate plan in place for this.Almost everyone who sees the mass decloakings, anywhere on Earth will be completely filled with universal love. It will be so moving that no one will miss the meaning. No one will be questioning if this is Our Family. Children especially, will be interested in knowing what is going on. They will help the older crowd assimilate the news. Everyone will instinctually be aware that this is something they have waited for a very long time. There will be a raising of energy frequency when this happens. When the arrests happen, it will remove in one large action, a great deal of negativity from Earth. All programs in place to intimidate with fear will, in a blink of an eye, be wiped away. The change will be palpable. Immediately, those prepared to take their places will be put into place. They are waiting for a signal. The news reporting of mass decloakings will speak of the event from a place of TRUTH. They will also be commentating on recent arrests and explaining how the decloakings effect everything. There is no part of this scenario that will be a surprise to tv, radio and newspapers around the globe. There will be a mass dissemination of Truth following mass declaokings.This is what is meant when we say there is an incremental increase of consciousness for everyone on Earth. This will be a half step increase, a significant rise in intelligence as well as heart opening, together. The heart mind will work more effectively at once. This allows each person to fairly decide for themselves, through their own Guidance, what is taking place, and how they feel about it. The rigid religious types, of all religions, in all countries, will be surprised at how easily they accept the new information. They will be able to see how it fits into the story they now believe, an expanded view of their story, an expanded view of what they believe.There will be great relief from worry. This will happen as a result of an increase in heart awareness. Egos will shrink and have less power over the individual. This will quiet the mind chatter. The local mind will reconnect with universal mind and memories of the Truth will pour in.With the criminals removed from the public, with the news broadcasting truth, there will be an almost overnight shift in the fear powered senseless actions controlling the world at the moment of this transmission. The old timeline is, in simple terms, GONE. Nothing can change that and the result is about to be witnessed by all.When the news media stop reporting lies about the need for war conflicts, and the hearts and minds of all on Earth increase a half step, the result is a swift end to war and a break out of World Peace. The radio broadcasts of hate will be replaced by beautiful music and people will be in the mood to sway to the music. Everything will suddenly "make sense".All the bankers who have been running their bankrupt empires into the ground will be removed, all the corrupt attorneys and law officials as well as all corrupt doctors-gone, arrested and taken away. Stock Brokerages in New York, London, and Japan, as well as those all over the World, will see an end to the corruption as all of the deal makers who are criminals will be arrested and gone. Stocks will be frozen as things are worked out.Decloakings will be massive and happen for a sustained amount of time. Those awoken from sleep, due to bright lights in the sky, will not fear they are dreaming. This is not something that will be mistaken for a strange weather pattern.In the American government, the government officials who are not telling the truth, and stealing funds as well as manipulating the system for their own gain, will be arrested and gone. There will only be a shadow government as things are worked out. The increase in love and understanding will have people celebrating the changes, instead of fearful.There will be a striking and sudden lack of worry among all people everywhere. The jobless, homeless, sick and hungry, will suddenly feel good again. The almost instant remittance of fear will have a profound effect on the Earth. Imagine a World suddenly with nothing to worry about? The initial good cheer just after arrests and mass decloakings will shortly change to endless questions from all, about what is next?The answer for what is next, is the Announcement that we have been under NESARA Law since October 1, 2008. There will be a great deal of education placed over the news media of what that means, but it will come directly form the Galactics, in every language, over the Earth, to all people who receive tv, radio or newspapers. People will feel a need to be at home and rest and absorb the news. There will be no urge to be out and about. Not at first. It will be a lot to take in. We of the Galactic Federation have been working on this with the other Star Nations in this Universe to present it to you in the most compassionate and loving way possible. We have worked a long time to formulate a plan that is the most fair to all involved. There will be much support in the changes times. No one will be left out. Be in joy with us, as the changes are seconds away.PEACE. Ashtar.Beth and Mark www.GalacticRoundTable.com

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Such a very sad story. I live in Canada and people up here think the recession is over, except there is no change and the jobs are becoming less. I wish the media would stop pumping all these false stories up about how good things are when they aren't.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

~Lord Ashtar

Greetings, This is Ashtar. One of these days soon there will be mass declaokings of our Ships, all over the World, simultaneously.New developments recently have made this possible.When this takes place, you will know arrests have taken place. We cannot make the Galacticpresence known on a worldwide scale until everyone is safe from any threat of danger,including world leaders, news media, and military officials.Many in the news media are prepared with specials already crafted that they will launch which will explain what mass decloakings means. When Ted Kennedy passed, there were several video tributes ready to go. This will be the case for mass decloakings.It will not be a surprise for the news media. KOS has talked to news media all over the world. Those news media who are penciled in for removal, already know they are leaving.Motherships, as you have already seen in China and Moscow film footage, will decloak in over 120 countries all at once. This will happen in different time zones, in day and at night. It will happen for millions of people at once. There will be film footage shot in all of these countries. This will go out over the internet as it is happening. YouTube and Servers will be supported by our technology during this time. Not only will there be Motherships in a large number of places, but millions of smaller ships will fill the skies in a shock and awe experience. ALL of these will have their lights on. Some will show in their Higher Dimensional forms as Light Ships and some will show up as metal discs. Some will show as a display of lights. There is an elaborate plan in place for this.Almost everyone who sees the mass decloakings, anywhere on Earth will be completely filled with universal love. It will be so moving that no one will miss the meaning. No one will be questioning if this is Our Family. Children especially, will be interested in knowing what is going on. They will help the older crowd assimilate the news. Everyone will instinctually be aware that this is something they have waited for a very long time. There will be a raising of energy frequency when this happens. When the arrests happen, it will remove in one large action, a great deal of negativity from Earth. All programs in place to intimidate with fear will, in a blink of an eye, be wiped away. The change will be palpable. Immediately, those prepared to take their places will be put into place. They are waiting for a signal. The news reporting of mass decloakings will speak of the event from a place of TRUTH. They will also be commentating on recent arrests and explaining how the decloakings effect everything. There is no part of this scenario that will be a surprise to tv, radio and newspapers around the globe. There will be a mass dissemination of Truth following mass declaokings.This is what is meant when we say there is an incremental increase of consciousness for everyone on Earth. This will be a half step increase, a significant rise in intelligence as well as heart opening, together. The heart mind will work more effectively at once. This allows each person to fairly decide for themselves, through their own Guidance, what is taking place, and how they feel about it. The rigid religious types, of all religions, in all countries, will be surprised at how easily they accept the new information. They will be able to see how it fits into the story they now believe, an expanded view of their story, an expanded view of what they believe.There will be great relief from worry. This will happen as a result of an increase in heart awareness. Egos will shrink and have less power over the individual. This will quiet the mind chatter. The local mind will reconnect with universal mind and memories of the Truth will pour in.With the criminals removed from the public, with the news broadcasting truth, there will be an almost overnight shift in the fear powered senseless actions controlling the world at the moment of this transmission. The old timeline is, in simple terms, GONE. Nothing can change that and the result is about to be witnessed by all.When the news media stop reporting lies about the need for war conflicts, and the hearts and minds of all on Earth increase a half step, the result is a swift end to war and a break out of World Peace. The radio broadcasts of hate will be replaced by beautiful music and people will be in the mood to sway to the music. Everything will suddenly "make sense".All the bankers who have been running their bankrupt empires into the ground will be removed, all the corrupt attorneys and law officials as well as all corrupt doctors-gone, arrested and taken away. Stock Brokerages in New York, London, and Japan, as well as those all over the World, will see an end to the corruption as all of the deal makers who are criminals will be arrested and gone. Stocks will be frozen as things are worked out.Decloakings will be massive and happen for a sustained amount of time. Those awoken from sleep, due to bright lights in the sky, will not fear they are dreaming. This is not something that will be mistaken for a strange weather pattern.In the American government, the government officials who are not telling the truth, and stealing funds as well as manipulating the system for their own gain, will be arrested and gone. There will only be a shadow government as things are worked out. The increase in love and understanding will have people celebrating the changes, instead of fearful.There will be a striking and sudden lack of worry among all people everywhere. The jobless, homeless, sick and hungry, will suddenly feel good again. The almost instant remittance of fear will have a profound effect on the Earth. Imagine a World suddenly with nothing to worry about? The initial good cheer just after arrests and mass decloakings will shortly change to endless questions from all, about what is next?The answer for what is next, is the Announcement that we have been under NESARA Law since October 1, 2008. There will be a great deal of education placed over the news media of what that means, but it will come directly form the Galactics, in every language, over the Earth, to all people who receive tv, radio or newspapers. People will feel a need to be at home and rest and absorb the news. There will be no urge to be out and about. Not at first. It will be a lot to take in. We of the Galactic Federation have been working on this with the other Star Nations in this Universe to present it to you in the most compassionate and loving way possible. We have worked a long time to formulate a plan that is the most fair to all involved. There will be much support in the changes times. No one will be left out. Be in joy with us, as the changes are seconds away.PEACE. Ashtar.Beth and Mark www.GalacticRoundTable.com

Personally, urantian, your pissing in my threads is only a minor irritant. However, in addition to my opinion that your cheese has slid off the cracker, I have some serious issues with some of the tactics about which you fantasize. If this were reality ~ I'd liken it to swapping an Edsel for a Gremlin.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Such a very sad story. I live in Canada and people up here think the recession is over, except there is no change and the jobs are becoming less. I wish the media would stop pumping all these false stories up about how good things are when they aren't.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Try again , just help to spread it around.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 805759

urantian,

You find fantasy preferable to arguing with mirrors?

WE have the freedom to choose ~ life in chains, even if velvet, are still chains. I gently urge you to consider that you get to wear the big boy pants and make a choice ~ there's no Daddy Aliens from the Star Nation to kiss your boo-boo and make it all better.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Dear sir Dejavoo, I am not pissing your thread at all. Can you not see the only hope we have is from what I had posted? I will leave you alone but the object is what I am interested to show your audience some hope. Peace?

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Thanks for posting this Daj. This is literally in my back yard and it's true. The town next to mine has had a growing tent city spring up. The cops handled it better than I initially thought and were tolerant.

However, uncaring assholes in the village complained about the site, so they were forced to go in an move them out. They dispersed and from what I hear from folks in the area, they eventually congregate back together.

What really gets me worried is the winters in Chicago are not survivable in the burbs. What are these people going to do? It's already been cold and I have to think they are either leaving for warmer climes, or ???

It saddens me, and pisses me off to know end to know this is happening in an area that would have been unthinkable just two years ago.

Re: Finding School Kids Living in Cars, Campers, Shelters, Motels and Storage Units...

Dear sir Dejavoo, I am not pissing your thread at all. Can you not see the only hope we have is from what I had posted? I will leave you alone but the object is what I am interested to show your audience some hope. Peace?

Quoting: urantian 805759

Oh, I'm all for love, peace and apple pie ~ but I believe we are made from the choices we make in life. Hope comes from faith ~ the merit of faith rests in the object. These Star People are a little late to the party to acquire merit...mine, any way. The largest choice in life is the One in Whom you choose to place your faith.